Canada announced on Friday new sanctions against the “murderous” regime of Iran and banished from its territory “forever” 10,000 officials, including members of the Revolutionary Guards, the Iranian regime’s ideological army. “This is a measure that has only been used in the most serious circumstances against regimes carrying out war crimes or genocide, such as in Bosnia and Rwanda,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau added.
The Iranian regime continues to display its reprehensible disregard for human rights. Today, we are using the most powerful tools at our disposal to crack down on this brutal regime. Watch our announcement live: https://t.co/NGIyYqykIO
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 7, 2022
Iran is currently traversed by a protest movement, with Iranian women in the front line, after the death in prison of Mahsa Amini arrested by the morality police. At least 92 people have been killed since September 16, according to the Oslo-based NGO Iran Human Rights, an official report of around 60 dead, including 12 members of the security forces.
“A repressive, theocratic and misogynistic regime”
“We must hold responsible the barbaric Iranian regime, which has committed murders and reigned terror”, also declared the head of the Canadian government, referring to Tehran’s “irresponsible disregard for human rights”. “Iran’s regime is repressive, theocratic and misogynistic,” added Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
In the Islamic Republic, the strict dress code obliges women to wear the Islamic veil in particular. In recent days, the mobilization has gone so far as to win over schoolgirls who have gathered and removed their veils or shouted anti-government slogans.
Tehran has accused outside forces of stoking the protests, including the United States, its sworn enemy. At the end of September, Canada had imposed sanctions against a dozen Iranian officials and entities including the morality police. Other countries have also taken economic retaliation measures, such as the United States.